A COMPARISON OF ONDANSETRON WITH METOCLOPRAMIDE IN THE PROPHYLAXIS OF CHEMOTHERAPY-INDUCED NAUSEA AND VOMITING - A RANDOMIZED, DOUBLE-BLIND-STUDY

The efficacy of ondansetron was compared with metoclopramide in the prophylaxis of nausea and vomiting induced by cyclophosphamide ≥ 500 mg/m2 in combination with doxorubicin ≥ 40 mg/m2 or epirubicin ≥ 40 mg/m2. Complete anti-emetic protection in the 24 h following chemotherapy was achieved in 26 of 40 (65%) patients treated with ondansetron compared with 17 of 42 (41%) patients treated with metoclopramide. Severe nausea was present in 3% of patients in the ondansetron group and 31% in the metoclopramide group. A worst day analysis of control of emesis and nausea on days 2 and 3 following chemotherapy also demonstrated ondansetron to be more effective than metoclopramide. Both treatments were well tolerated. Ondansetron is more effective as an anti-emetic than metoclopramide in this type of cytostatic therapy. © 1990.